How To Compare Water Filters Using NSF Standards

Comparing Water Filter Systems

Concerned about the safety of your drinking water? Don’t really know how to compare the quality of various brands of water filters on the market today? More than 30 years after the passage of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the safety of our drinking water is often in the news and on consumers’ minds.

Health-conscious consumers concerned about the safety of their drinking water are seeking water treatment devices that will allow them to control the quality of the water they drink. But, with thousands of drinking water systems to choose from, it’s easy to understand why even the most savvy consumers have difficulty comparing one product to another. Whether you are purchasing a drinking water system to improve the taste and odor of your water or are concerned about possible harmful contaminants in your drinking water, you want to be certain that the water treatment system you select will actually do what the manufacturer claims it will do.

Widely accepted industry standards make it easier for consumers to evaluate the many different technologies and systems available. This report will help you understand how consumers can compare drinking water treatment devices currently on the market.

What About Federal Standards?

Americans consider their water supply safe because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors drinking water quality. However, the EPA has established standards for less than 100 contaminants found in drinking water supplies.

Federal law requires the public water utilities to provide consumers with a “consumer-confidence report”. The water companies are required to tell consumers whether their water measures up to the established EPA standards. If standards have not been established, the water company is not required to monitor and report on those contaminants. Also, while certain contaminants found in your drinking water may be within “allowable” limits, that level of contamination may not be safe for vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with compromised immune systems.

The report may indicate that your water had safe levels of a contaminant, when it actually experienced potentially harmful spikes. The water utility’s report is usually based on an annual average measurement, not on individual water samples.

A water quality report can’t tell you about contaminants that can be introduced into the drinking water as it flows through the distribution pipes or in your own home — such as lead from lead solder on pipes, asbestos used in distribution pipes, or harmful byproducts of chlorination.

What About Industry Standards?

Although the EPA oversees the safety of public drinking water supplies, it does not regulate the drinking water treatment industry. The EPA refers consumers seeking assistance in evaluating water treatment devices to NSF International, a not-for-profit organization which tests and certifies that products meet the requirements of its strict public health standards. NSF’s standards and testing criteria are used internationally for consumer products and services including drinking water treatment units. The end result for the consumer is the assurance that the certified drinking water treatment system will do what its manufacturer claims it will do.

In addition to NSF certification, some states have established certification or registration requirements for drinking water treatment devices for which health claims are made. To date the states of California, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin have established some form of regulation for drinking water treatment devices.

What Are the Concerns?

A study from the Water Quality Association (WQA) revealed that the top two contaminants which Americans are concerned about in their drinking water are LEAD and ARSENIC. Multi-Pure has been the leader in the drinking water industry with products which treat both lead and arsenic. Currently, Multi-Pure is the only manufacturer with a filter system NSF certified to reduce levels of Arsenic V. The most widespread contamination problems causing concern are:

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)

Disinfectants, such as chlorine and chloramines, which are used to kill microbes, form harmful byproducts (DBPs). Many of the DBPs have been found to cause potential health risks, including human cancers and birth and developmental defects.

Some 600 DBPs have been identified since 1974; however, scientists believe that represents only 50% of all DBPs that occur in chlorine-treated water and 17% of those occurring in chloraminetreated water. Of the identified DBPs, the toxicity is known for maybe 30%.

More than 90% of the population drink water that has been disinfected. The DBPs enter the water supply as it moves from the treatment plant through the distribution system to the kitchen tap.

Chemicals / Pesticides

More than 75,000 chemicals have been introduced to the environment over the past 60 years. And, the EPA has established national standards for fewer than 60 chemicals. Chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides have been linked to many diseases, including: cancers in humans; nervous system damage; liver problems; and reproductive problems.

Methyl-Tertiary-Butyl-Ether (MTBE)

MTBE, a controversial gasoline additive used for two decades, has seeped into groundwater throughout the country. MTBE does not breakdown easily and is difficult and costly to remove from groundwater. There currently is no federal standard for this possible human carcinogen.

Cryptosporidium & Giardia (Cysts)

These parasitic cysts are generally more resistant to disinfectants and are particularly harmful to persons with compromised immune systems. Cysts can be killed by boiling water or removed by filtration.

Lead

Water can pick up lead almost anywhere along the way from the treatment plant to the tap. Lead enters tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Lead in drinking water can cause a variety of adverse health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 15 ppb.

In babies and children, exposure to lead in drinking water can result in delays in physical and mental development; slight deficits in attention span; hearing problems, and learning disabilities. Adults who drink water contaminated with lead could develop high blood pressure.

Arsenic V

This naturally occurring toxin has been linked to several cancers and has been found to harm nerves, heart, and skin. Currently the EPA Standard for Arsenic V is 50 ppb. Water utilities have until 2006 to comply with EPA’s new standard of 10 ppb.

What Are The Industry Standards?

NSF International tests and certifies drinking water treatment devices to the standard appropriate for the technology of the product. NSF does not “rate” or “rank” water treatment systems, rather each system is tested against its own claims. For filtering devices, NSF may certify the product to improve the aesthetics of the water, the health effects of the water or both.

Aesthetic Effects (NSF Standard No. 42)

A drinking water treatment system may be certified under Standard 42 if the system aesthetically improves the water. This includes the reduction of chlorine, chloramine, and particulate reduction.

Chlorine Reduction

A device can be certified for chlorine reduction by meeting the minimum level of reduction required by the NSF standard, which is only 10%. Be sure to check the literature to determine how much chlorine is reduced by the device.

Particulate Reduction

Several classes are used to define the level of particulate reduction, ranging from Class VI for those devices removing coarse particulates of 50 micrometers and larger to Class I for drinking water treatment units that reduce the smallest (sub-micron) particles (0.5 to 1.0 micron).

Health Effects (NSF Standard No. 53)

NSF tests and certifies under this standard if a filter system reduces a significant amount of a specific harmful contaminant from drinking water. Such hazardous contaminants may be microbiological (including filterable cysts), chemical (including DBPs, pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides), or particulate in nature. NSF may certify that a drinking water treatment unit may be effective in controlling one or more of the health effects contaminants. By carefully reviewing the performance data sheet for a product, you will be able to determine whether the device is effective in reducing many pollutants or just a few.

Reverse Osmosis (NSF Standard No. 58)

The Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology is tested and certified under Standard 58. RO devices effectively reduce certain heavy metals, salts, and inorganics, including healthful, naturally-occurring minerals. Contaminants extracted through the Reverse Osmosis process are returned to the water supply. The process is slow and wastes about 3 to 4 gallons for every one gallon of water produced.

Distillation (NSF Standard No. 62)

NSF Standard 62 was developed for the Distillation technology which works very slowly and uses a lot of electricity. Water is heated to boiling and turns to vapor, leaving inorganic contaminants, including healthful minerals, behind. Chemicals evaporate along with the water and then recondense into a liquid state in the distilled water.

How do the Different Technologies Compare?

Carbon Block Filters

Multi-Pure’s carbon block filters are considered to be the most effective method for reducing a wide range of contaminants of health concern as well as solving aesthetic problems. Multi-Pure’s densely compacted carbon block filter mechanically intercepts particles as small as 0.5 micron (sub micron) as well as electrokinetically adsorbs particles. In addition, the carbon block filter has a large surface area for chemical adsorption to take place. The carbon block filter is a replaceable cartridge designed so that it can be easily changed. Some additional advantages of the carbon block filter are: it does not waste water; no electricity required; it does not remove beneficial minerals; and it does not add salt or silver to the water.

Granular Activated Carbon Filters (GAC)

GAC is only effective in trapping dirt, rust, sand and silt and removing objectionable tastes and odors. Water passes through a bed of loose carbon granules. Water can channel around the carbon instead of filtering through it.

Silver-Charcoal Filters (Bacteriostatic Filters)

Silver Nitrate, a known toxin, is added to a GAC filter to inhibit growth of heterotrophic bacteria; however, its effectiveness is questionable.

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

RO devices effectively reduce suspended and dissolved matter from water, including minerals which are essential to good health. RO systems do not remove all bacteria or chemicals. This process is very slow and may not filter as much water as you need at a time. The device may take up most of the space under your sink. RO can be expensive to maintain, requiring several separate replacement filters per year. An activated carbon filter usually accompanies an RO system.

Ceramic Filters

These devices are designed for mechanical filtration only. Ceramic filters do not reduce or remove any chemicals, pesticides, or herbicides, disinfection byproducts, or dissolved heavy metals.

Distillation

Much like Reverse Osmosis, Distillation removes all minerals. Distillers boil water and recondense the water vapor. This process is ineffective at reducing chemicals because they also vaporize along with the water. Distillation can only produce a few gallons of treated water a day. Distillation also uses a lot of electricity, making it an expensive process.

Water Softeners

Softeners are neither filters nor purifiers and are used only to change the water hardness.

Who is the leader in drinking water filter technologies?

Today,Multi-Pureis the world’s largest manufacturer of compressed solid carbon block filters. No other water filter reduces more contaminants than Multi-Pure. Multi-Pure specializes in Drinking Water Systems and subsequently can assure that our customers will receive a product that meets their quality requirements.

Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been listed, certified and/or registered by the following, including all of the states that have certification programs:

NSF International

California Department of Public Health

Iowa Department of Public Health

State of Wisconsin, Bureau of Building Water Systems, Research and Product Review Unit

State of Massachusetts, Board of Plumbing

State of Colorado, Department of Health, Drinking Water Program

Consumers have been bombarded with deceptive manufacturer and sales claims making it more important than ever to refer to industry standards and state regulations which assure the effectiveness of the drinking water systems, that have been certified or registered, in reducing aesthetic substances and/or health effect contaminants. Multi-Pure’s Drinking Water Systems have been tested since 1974, and NSF International’s testing and certification further confirm the superior effectiveness of Multi-Pure’s Systems, listed on the preceding page, in reducing a wide range of contaminants of health concern.

Furthermore, Multi-Pure continues to be a leader in developing new technology for the drinking water treatment industry. Among other accomplishments, Multi-Pure’s carbon block filter was the first to be NSF certified to reduce Lead, the first system certified to remove Asbestos, the first system certified to remove Cysts; and most recently, the first system, under Standard No. 53, certified to reduce Arsenic V!

Commitment

Recognizing that drinking water plays an important role in a healthy lifestyle, Multi-Pure remains committed to the drinking water treatment industry. We continuously invest in research and development and improve our products to solve current drinking water problems as well as emerging problems.

Quality

The quality of Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems is unsurpassed. Our unprecedented twenty-five year warranty on stainless steel units confirms our confidence in the quality of our products.

Integrity

Multi-Pure is strongly committed to truth, honesty, and excellence. Testing and certification against NSF/ANSI standards confirms our confidence in the performance of Multi-Pure’s carbon block filters. Most importantly, the effectiveness of Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems is also confirmed by the millions of satisfied customers throughout the world who use Multi-Pure’s carbon block filter technology to solve their drinking water problems.

When making a decision to purchase a drinking water treatment device, one should select a system that not only can solve the known problems of today, but also be a device that most likely will be effective in taking care of problems that may not be known today. When informed consumers compare Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems with other units available on the market, they will confirm that Multi-Pure Systems are indeed the systems that can best meet their needs. Click here to learn more about Multi-Pure drinking water systems

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Welcome to the water filter lady’s blog! Meet Laura…

I have been in the water filter business for 12 years. My goal is to help educate you.
Deciding to drink filtered tap water instead of bottled water can have huge benefits for the earth. We can eliminate unnecessary waste going into our landfills and oceans, cut back on the energy it takes to produce and transport the bottles, reduce our exposure to harmful chemicals like BPA, and stop supporting an industry moving to turn water from a common resource into an expensive commodity.
If you have any questions, please email me at thewaterfilterlady@yahoo.com